RFQ 21-10-01_Architects Design Group

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work areas should be provided with an integral sink. The custodians / technicians will finalize the case identification for the articles and prepare them for storage. On many occasions, the evidence will need to be further examined by the technicians or crime scene analysts. This requires very specialized lab areas with particular concern to handling of hazardous and bio-hazardous materials. A vehicle evidence bay is often located adjacent to a vehicle sallyport area of the facility. The vehicle evidence bays must follow the same regulatory guidelines as other areas associated with the storage and processing of articles of property and evidence. The bays are typically sized a minimum of 20-feet-wide to accommodate personnel access on both sides of a vehicle with the doors open. They are outfitted with such components as epoxy quartz chemical-resistant flooring surfaces, floor drains tied into an oil-water separator, pull-down electrical reels and low-velocity air distribution systems. Dual means of access control devices to monitor who has accessed these areas, and CCTV systems (closed circuit television cameras) used to record in color/digital format anyone occupying these spaces, are also included. High performance artificial lighting must be provided. (3) Holding/Storage: The storage of property and evidence is as critical as the processing. Locating the articles relies on the accurate identification and recording of the pertinent case information associated with each article. The storage of the various types of articles is often segregated into the following definitions: bulk evidence, cash / valuables, narcotics, weapons, cold-case files, capital case files, DNA evidence, etc. All holding areas must be equipped with dual-recording access control devices to meet law enforcement (CALEA) Accreditation standards. Likewise, any visitor to these areas must have their personal identification checked and verified, their times documented when entering and leaving, and signed by a witness, typically the custodian/technician working this area. High density storage systems are often utilized to maximize the use of these areas. High volume ceilings shall be provided to accommodate the storage systems. (4) Support Infrastructure: The property and evidence areas of any law enforcement agency pose one of the highest areas of potential liability for that agency. The entire compound of the area must be contained within a security perimeter constructed out of tamper- proof (solid concrete walls) and ceilings, or of similarly secured construction. The area is provided air conditioning systems designed for 100% exhaust and 100% make-up fresh air to ensure that none of the air from these areas is recycled into the main facility due to the concern of airborne pathogens that may be contained within the articles being stored or processed. Any HVAC ductwork which breaches the perimeter of this area that is larger than 6 inches in diameter should be installed with No. 5 steel reinforcing bars (5/8” diameter) at 4 inches on center and embedded into the concrete at both ends no less than four inches on each side. The accessibility to the area is regimentally documented at both entering and exiting by all individuals. This is easily accommodated through the use of sophisticated dual-recording access control devices as previously noted. A variety of technology is available such as fob readers, proximity cards, key pads, biometric readers, or a combination thereof. Strict adherence to these protocols and the accreditation standards will confirm an agency maintains the sanctity of custody. Our team will ensure that these four critical components are properly planned for and designed. CALEA / CFA / CPTED STANDARDS | CALEA accreditation is recognized as a means of maintaining the highest standards of professionalism in many law enforcement agencies and their facilities. Several states have followed CALEA and established an accreditation commission. Generally, the goals of accreditation and the process follow the National Accreditation Program model. The Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) was formed through the combined efforts of several law enforcement agencies in Florida for the purpose of providing member agencies a network of Law Enforcement professionals encouraging communication, mutual cooperation, support, and sharing of resources. CFA provides all members with current relative information pertaining to National and State Accreditation. Although the aim of an accreditation program is to enhance the entire spectrum of professional law enforcement services, the facilities available to an agency have a significant impact on success, and more importantly, protects the municipal entity from potentially frivolous litigation. An agency requires adequate and appropriate space for personnel to conduct their work. Certain areas of the facility are assessed and continually undergo scrutiny of how it protects the interests of the department, its personnel, and the citizens coming into contact within the facility. Areas which may be evaluated include the records unit, training, patrol, property and evidence, vehicle sally port and detention, hazardous materials storage, criminal investigations, intake and holding, and dispatch. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is defined as a multi-disciplinary approach to deterring criminal behavior through environmental design. CPTED strategies rely upon the ability to influence offender decisions that precede criminal acts by affecting the built, social, and administrative environment. Our team’s Principal in Charge, Ian Reeves, AIA, IALEP, ICA, has undergone significant training and is an expert in both CPTED and CALEA design standards. ADG is often contracted specifically because of his knowledge and experience with facility design that meets or exceeds accreditation requirements standards. Subsequently, he was 12